'  ^tf    ■     -M  L 


To  the  Directors  of  the  New-York  Wat^R 
Works  Company,  by  their  Engineer; 


To  supply  the  city  of  New-York  with  good  and 
wholesome  water,  is  an  undertaking  of  great  pub- 
lic importance,  and  has  been  a  subject  of  discus- 
sion for  many  years. 

Although  much  has  been  written,  yet  nothing  el- 
fectual  has  heretofore  been  done  towards  accom- 
plishing this  important  and  desirable  object. 

The  delay  maybe  attributed  to  a  want  of  confi- 
dence in  the  success  of  the  enterprise.  Works 
of  a  similar  kind  have  generally  been  accomplish- 
ed by  the  capital  and  enterprise  of  public  spirit- 
ed individuals,  aided  by  acts  of  incorporation. 
The  distribution  of  the  water,  which  has  hereto- 
fore been  the  most  complicated  and  difficult  part 
of  the  work,  has  by  recent  improvements,  been 
rendered  easy  and  simple,  so  that  there  can  be  no 
longer  any  doubts  as  to  the  practical  result. 

Having  heretofore  been  employed  by  the  city  to 
explore  the  adjacent  country,  with  a  view  of  ascer- 
taining if  a  sufficient  supply  of  good  water,  for  do- 
mestic consumption,  could  be  obtained,  my  atten- 
tion at  that  time  was  directed  to  the  Bronx,  Byram, 
Saw-Mill,  and  Croton  Rivers,  also  Rye  Ponds. 

Although  the  examination  did  not  extend  as  far 
A 


into  the  country  as  was  desirable,  yet  they  were 
sufficient  for  the  information  then  required. 

I  examined  and  re  ported  several  routes  and 
plans  for  conveying  the  water  of  the  Bronx  to  this 
city,  some  of  which  depended  on  raising  it  to  a 
sufficient  elevation  l>y  tide  power  at  Harlaem  ri- 
ver; but  any  connexion  with  machinery  is  objec- 
tionable, when  it  can  be  avoided.  Therefore  I 
have  carefully  surveyed  the  country,  and  extend- 
ed the  examinations  hum  Rye  Pond,  to  Byram 
Pond,  Wampus  Pond,  and  the  adjacent  country, 
and  particularly  examined  Bronx,  Saw-Mill,  By- 
ram,  Cross  and  Croton  Rivers,  Tisco,  Peach,  and 
Long  Ponds,  and  a  number  of  small  streams  con- 
nected with  them.  The  long  drought  of  the  past 
season  has  been  favourable  for  guaging  the  streams 
and  ascertaining  the  quantity  of  water  that  may 
be  depended  upon  during  similar  seasons. 

The  country  has  been  examined  with  a  view  to 
connect  Cross  River  (being  a  part  of  the  Croton) 
with  the  Bronx,  and  also  to  connect  the  main  Cro- 
ton with  the  Bronx.  But  the  intervening  ground 
is  found  to  be  too  high  and  rocky,  to  accomplish 
this  object. 

Saw-mill  IjUver  can  be  easily  turned  into  the 
Bronx  through  a  Ravine,  near  Union  Church,  bui 
on  guaging  the  stream,  it  was  found  to  be  so  re- 
duced in  consequence  of  the  drought  that  no  reli- 
ance can  be  placed  on  it  for  any  part  of  the  sup- 
ply. 

My  examinations  have  resulted  in  a  full  convic- 
tion that  a  successful  plan  can  be  adopted  by  the 
company,  which  is  to  take  the  waters  of  Bronx 
River,  the  main  source  of  which  is  Rye  Pond. 

The  water  is  of  a  superior  quality,  and  is  fit  for 


3 


all  domestic  purposes.  It  is  the  opinion  of  many 
that  the  Bronx  is  wholly  inadequate  to  supply  the 
City  at  those  seasons,  when  the  greatest  consump- 
tion will  be  required.  This  question  may  be  con- 
sidered as  put  fairly  at  rest ;  for  by  the  repeated 
trials,  made  during  the  driest  part  of  the  last  sea- 
son, near  the  point  proposed  to  take  the  water 
from  the  river,  the  minimum  quantity  or  flow  was 
found  to  be  4,302,720  gallons  every  24  hours. 

The  supply  can  be  increased  by  lowering  the 
outlet  of  Rye  Pond  4  feet,  and  raising  the  pond  6 
feet  above  its  present  level,  by  making  a  dam 
across  the  outlet. 

The  banks  are  very  favourable,  the  rocks  ap- 
proach near  to  each  other,  and  almost  form  a  na- 
tural dam. 

The  shores  of  the  pond  are  also  favourable,  be- 
ing principally  rocky.  Very  little  injury  would 
be  done  to  the  land  on  the  borders  of  the  pond, 
the  owners  of  which  have  no  objection  to  its  use; 
and  have  already  entered  into  contracts  to  grant 
to  the  company  the  right  of  so  doing.  By  this  ar- 
rangement an  accession  of  10  feet  on  the  surface 
of  the  pond  will  be  at  command,  and  may  be  con- 
sidered as  a  part  of  the  permanent  supply,  with- 
out interfering  with  the  natural  flow  of  the  pond. 

The  accession  of  water  to  the  pond  will  amount 
to  about  775,500,000  gallons  on  the  10  feet  depth 
of  its  surface  thus  acquired. 

Connected  with  this  a  dam  may  be  constructed 
to  cross  the  outlet  of  Little  Rye  Pond,  into  which 
Great  Rye  Pond  discharges  itself,  and  raised  to  a 
level  with  the  upper  pond,  which  will  give  an  ad- 
ditional quantity  of  about  89,000,000  of  gallons. 

Surplus  water  may  be  drawn  from  these  ponds. 


4 


which  will  furnish  a  daily  supply  of  4,7' W,000  gal- 
lons, supposing  a  drought  to  continue  six  months 
in  a  year. 

No  allowance  is  necessary  to  be  made  for  leak- 
age, or  evaporation.  By  adding  the  natural  flow  of 
the  Bronx  to  the  quantity  which  can  be  procured 
from  the  ponds,  in  the  manner  above  proposed, 
there  will  be  a  daily  supply  at  all  seasons  of  the 
year  of  9,100,000  gallons. 

If  we  allow  twenty  gallons  for  the  consumption 
of  each  person  daily,  we  shall  have  a  supply  for 
a  population  of  150,000  inhabitants;  the  allowance 
of  twenty  gallons  will  be  ample  to  cover  the  quan- 
tity that  may  be  required  for  factories  and  other 
purposes. 

From  the  above  it  appears,  that  the  Bronx,  with- 
out the  aid  of  reservoirs,  will  furnish  a  supply  for  a 
population  of  2 1 5,000 ;  and  by  the  aid  of  reservoirs 
a  supply  may  be  furnished  to  the  city  for  years  with- 
out injury  to  the  factories  and  mills  on  the  Bronx. 

In  order  to  guard  more  fully  against  long  and 
severe  drought,  it  is  proposed  to  make  a  reservoir 
of  Byram  Pond,  in  case  the  same  shall  at  any  time 
be  required,  similar  to  Rye  Pond,  which  can  be 
easily  done  by  lowering  the  present  outlet,  and 
erecting  a  permanent  dam  across  it ;  the  water  is 
soft  and  pure. 

This  reservoir,  with  little  expense,  may  be  made 
to  contain  about  789,000,000  gallons  in  addition  to 
the  usual  quantity  in  the  Pond.  Byram  Pond  is  the 
head  of  Byram  River;  although  Wampus  Pond  is 
the  principal  source.  Byram  Pond  lies  much  high- 
er than  Rye  Pond,  and  a  communication  can  be 
easily  made  between  them,  distant  about  6  miles, 
principally  over  bottom  lands. 


o 

It  is  proposed  to  cut  a  small  Independent  Canal, 
so  as  to  divert  the  reserved  waters  only,  thereby 
avoiding  any  interference  with  the  water  rights, 
mills,  &c.  on  By  ram  River.  Conditional  contracts 
have  been  made  with  the  owners  of  the  land  bor- 
dering on  the  Pond,  for  the  privilege  of  converting 
it  into  a  Reservoir. 

The  plan  finally  to  be  adopted,  for  conveying  the 
water  to  the  city,  is  of  considerable  moment  to  the 
company,  and  particularly  so  to  the  community. 
An  open  canal  will  be  least  expensive,  but  very  ob- 
jectionable on  account  of  the  water  being  liable  to 
become  turbid,  during  rains,  and  the  quantity  of 
foreign  matter  that  would  necessarily  collect  in  it. 
It  must  pass  along  sidelying  ground,  sometimes 
near  Farm  Yards  and  Dwellings,  and  must  receive 
the  wash  from  the  higher  grounds  in  many  places. 
The  same  objection  may  probably  be  made,  by 
some,  to  the  natural  stream,  but  it  does  not  apply  in 
this  case,  for  the  Bronx  is  generally  bounded  by 
woods,  or  meadow  lands,  and  the  impurities  brought 
down  from  the  adjacent  hills  are  deposited  on  the 
bottom  lands,  before  reaching  the  stream. 

Another  objection  to  an  open  canal,  is  the  liabi- 
lity of  having  the  supply  of  water  interrupted  by 
the  ice  during  the  winter;  if  not  entirely  stopped 
by  the  formation  of  anchor  ice,  which  would  cause 
the  water  to  flow  over  the  banks  of  the  canal,  and 
follow  the  natural  channel  of  the  stream. 

There  are  many  other  objections  that  may  be 
made  to  an  open  canal,  which  have  induced  me 
to  recommend  a  plan  by  which  the  water  can  be 
conveyed  free  from  all  obstructions  or  objections. 

The  water  can  be  taken  from  the  Bronx  at  Under- 
bill's bridge,  about  2  miles  above  Mr.  Shaw's  Cot- 


8 


ion  Factory,  and  conveyed  in  a  stone  or  brick 
tunnel,  (bribing  a  closed  canal,  laid  in  hydraulic 
cement,  to  Harlaem  river.  The  canal  or  tunnel 
will  pass  along  the  ravine  of  the  Bronx  about  H 
miles  ;  thence  westerly  to  the  ravine  of  Morrissina 
creek,  passing  along  (he  declivity  of  the  hills  about 
2  1-2  miles,  to  a  point  where  the  lines  div  ide,  (as 
shown  on  the  map,)  one  to  Macomb's  dam  or 
bridge,  near  the  termination  of  the  eighth  avenue, 
both  offering  about  the  same  facilities.  The  se- 
lection will  depend  on  some  circumstances,  to  be 
taken  into  consideration  hereafter. 

On  the  route  to  Cole's  bridge,  the  canal  will  ter- 
minate near  Mrs.  Morris'  about  3-4  of  a  mile  from 
the  bridge.  The  canal  to  Macomb's  bridge  will 
terminate  on  the  hill  near  Harlaem  river. 

The  line  of  canal  which  has  been  marked  out  on 
the  ground,  and  laid  down  on  the  maps,  (herewith 
submitted)  has  a  declivity  of  18  inches  in  a  mile — 
and  the  surface  of  the  water,  at  the  extremity  of 
the  canal  or  tunnel,  will  be  at  least  45  feet  above 
the  Park. 

A  reservoir  will  be  necessary  at  the  termination 
of  the  canal,  or  tunnel,  at  which  the  iron  pipes,  for 
conveying  the  water  to  the  city,  will  commence. 

In  order  to  pass  Harlaem  river,  it  will  be  re- 
quisite toconstruct  a  permanent  stone  bridge,  which 
will  answer  the  double  purpose  of  supporting  the 
pipes  and  forming  a  good  highway.  A  sufficient 
depth  of  earth  should  be  placed  on  the  arches,  to 
protect  the  pipes  against  frost;  this  precaution 
will  be  necessary  with  all  the  pipes,  which  should 
be  placed  about  4  feet  below  the  surface  of  the 
ground. 

In  making  an  estimate  of  the  expense  for  con- 


structing  a  brick  tunnel.  I  procured  the  data  for 
the  calculation,  from  the  work  of  a  similar  kind  in 
the  city,  but  thinking  the  estimate  too  large,  I  have 
been  more  particular  on  this  point.  By  noticing 
the  fine  quality  and  workmanship  of  the  bricks 
made  at  Philadelphia,  I  engaged  Mr.  Samuel  Fox, 
to  make  four  parcels  of  sample  brick,  (which  are 
deposited  in  the  office,)  of  different  sizes,  for  the 
purpose  of  ascertaining  the  best  form  and  size,  by 
actual  experiment.  They  are  moulded  to  form  an 
arch  of  5  feet  diameter,  each  brick  is  a  segment 
of  a  circle,  and  when  put  together  with  hydraulic 
cement,  will  form  a  very  perfect  work. 

It  will  probably  not  exceed  three  years,  to  get 
the  work  in  a  state  to  produce  a  revenue. 

The  quantity  of  materials  to  be  procured,  par- 
ticularly the  cast  iron  pipes,  must  take  up  consi- 
derable time.  Heavy  contracts  of  this  kind  can- 
not be  urged  beyond  a  certain  extent,  without  in- 
curring a  heavy  extra  expense,  and  in  all  probabi- 
lity there  will  be  a  depreciation  in  the  price  of 
some  of  the  most  expensive  materials ;  it  would, 
therefore,  be  prudent  not  to  make  large  contracts 
at  first,  but  only  sufficient  to  insure  the  steady  and 
regular  progress  of  the  work. 

The  length  of  the  tunnel  will  be  about  lo£  miles, 
and  is  estimated  to  cost  $  S  1,174  per  mile,  which  in- 
cludes all  the  expense,  connected  with  that  part  of 
the  work ;  making  a  reasonable  allowance  for  the 
land  transportation  of  the  materials  from  the  land- 
ing places  to  the  line  of  the  Tunnel.  It  will  be  ne- 
cessary to  lay  about  9  miles  of  24  inch  pipes  ; 
they  will  probably  weigh  from  i  700  to  1  ton  each, 
and  the  length  generally  adopted  is  9  feet,  and  by 
putting  them  together,  they  overlap  6  inches,  which. 


• 

will  make  621  pieces  to  a  mile.  Allowing  them 
to  weigh  one  ton  each,  at  $70  per  ton,  they  will 
cost  #43,370  per  mile,  exclusive  of  the  expense  of 
laying;  this  has  been  found  by  experience,  to  add 
about  .)0  per  cent,  to  the  cost  of  the  pipes. 

Thk  increase  of  expense  is  occasioned  by  the 
quantity  of  lead  required  in  securing  the  joints, 
digging  and  regulating  the  ground,  transportation 
of  the  pipes  from  the  nearest  landing  places,  &c. 
which  will  make  the  expense  of  laying  one  mile 
amount  to  #65,205. 

The  expense  of  a  bridge  across  the  Harlaem 
river  will  depend  on  the  location;  if  Macomb's 
dam  should  be  taken,  the  present  superstructure 
must  be  removed,  and  the  w  ork  commenced  on  the 
foundation,  at  low  water  Another  position  may 
be  selected  for  the  bridge,  which  would  be  be- 
tween Cole's  and  Macomb's,  and  very  convenient 
for  the  works  of  the  Company  ;  the  expense  about 
the  same  as  Cole's  bridge ;  and  would  have  an  ad- 
vantage over  the  others,  by  not  interrupting  the 
travel  while  the  bridge  was  building,  and  would 
avoid  a  clashing  of  interests  hereafter,  in  conse- 
quence of  breaking  up  the  road-way  to  repair  the 
pipes,  or  to  lay  new  ones. 

From  Harlaem  river  the  best  route  appears  to 
be  through  the  third  avenue;  the  undulations  of 
the  surface  are  less  on  this  than  on  any  of  the 
other  avenues — and  the  ground  in  many  places  on 
the  side  of  the  avenue  is  favourably  situated  for 
constructing  large  reservoirs  for  containing  many 
day's  supply  of  water ;  which,  in  case  of  a  large 
draught  of  water,  in  consequence  of  fires  or  other 
causes,  will  allow  the  water  to  keep  up  a  head  suf- 
ficient for  all  the  requisite  purposes  of  the  city. 


9 

and  render  the  supply  sure  in  case  of  accident  to 
the  pipes  between  the  reservoirs;  and  would 
be  useful  in  rendering  the  water  more  pure,  by 
giving  it  an  opportunity  to  settle. 

The  particular  form  and  construction  of  the  re- 
servoirs, and  their  location,  as  well  as  several 
other  subjects  connected  with  the  work,  will  be 
communicated  hereafter. 

The  estimated  expense  for  delivering  the  water 
into  a  reservoir  within  the  city  will  be  as  follows: 

For  13  1-4  miles  closed  canal,  or 
tunnel,  at  $31,174  per  mile,  $413,055  50 

Bridge  over  Harlaem  river,  45,000  00 

Nine  miles    24   inch  pipes,  at 
$65,205  per  mile,  586,845  00 

Four  reservoirs,  38,000  00 


$1,082,900  50 

Add  for  contingencies  5  per  cent.  54,145  00 
Distributing  water  in  the  city,         1 87,954  40 

*  $1,325,000  00 
Making  altogether  $1,325,000,  exclusive  of 
the  sums  which  may  be  necessary  for  purchasing 
water  rights  on  the  Bronx,  and  to  pay  damages  to 
those  whose  lands  the  tunnel  shall  pass  through. 
From  the  purchases  already  agreed  to  be  made, 
it  is  rot  believed  that  all  subsequent  ones  will  ex- 
ceed $125,000. 

The  population  of  the  city  of  New- York  amounts 
to  170,000  persons.  Allowing  six  persons  to  a 
family,  it  will  make  28,333  families  that  may  re- 
quire a  supply  of  water. 

The  foregoing  estimate  of  main  pipe  for  the 

B 


10 


nifre  miles,  carries  it  to  the  Park,  and  allows  for 
several  angles  to  connect  with  the  reservoirs. 

The  expense  of  distribution,  asset  down,  I  be- 
lieve  more  than  ample. 

Before  closing  this  report  \  must  beg  leave  to 
express  my  acknowledgments  to  the  inhabitants 
of  Westchester  county  lor  the  information  and  as- 
sistance thej  have  afforded  me,  in  my  examination! 
.md  surveys,  and  who  have  uniformly  evinced  the 
strongest  desire,  that  the  work  should  be  carried 
into  lull  and  successful  operation. 

I  do  therefore  report  it  as  my  decided  opinion — 

1st.  That  it  is  practicable,  and  in  the  manner 
above  stated,  to  introduce  into  the  city  of  New- 
York  an  abundanl  supply  of  pure  and  excellent 
water. 

2d.  That  the  same  can  be  done  at  a  moderate 
expense,  compared  with  the  public  utility  of  the 
measure,  and 

3d.  The  foregoing  estimate  of  costs  and  ex- 
penses, 1  believe  to  be,  over  rather  than  under  the 
probable  amount. — New-York,  Jan.  9th,  1826. 

Respectfully  submitted. 

CANVASS  WHITE,  Engineer. 

The  subscriber  having  examined  the  ground 
and  had  explanations  from  Mr.  White  on  all  the 
particular  details,  upon  w  hich  he  grounds  his  cal- 
culation of  expense  in  the  foregoing  report,  I  do 
hereby  oxpress  my  full  confidence  in  the  ample 
and  liberal  estimate  made  by  him,  and  believe  the 
work  may  be  accomplished,  for  the  sum  be  has 
stated,  with  the  most  perfect  prospect  of  success. 

BLNJAMIN  WRIGHT. 

New-York,  Jan.  14th,  1826. 


11 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Directors  of  the  Water 
Works  Company,  Jan.  16th,  1826. 

Resolved,  That  the  report  of  the  engineer  be 
published  for  the  information  of  the  stockholders 
and  the  public. 

BENJ.  WRIGHT,  PresL 
E.  E.  WEED,  Sec'y. 

The  Maps  are  at  the  office  of  the  New- York 
Water  Works  Company,  and  open  to  the  inspec- 
tion of  all  persons. 


